Paint technology
In care home settings, where residents may have limited mobility and require assistance during emergencies, intumescent paint offers invaluable fire protection benefits. By limiting the spread of flames and providing additional time for evacuation, it enhances the overall safety of residents, staff, and visitors.
Prioritising the safety of residents and staff should be an area of no compromise. The investment into the highest levels of fire protective coatings is one all care homes should be considering as part of their duty of care. Not only does this give the strongest level of protection, the high-grade materials used in these paints mean they are longer lasting – reducing maintenance cycles and the need for touch ups and only require a single coat for future re-decoration.
Anti-viral technology The recent global health crisis has only underscored the importance of infection control measures in all environments, including care homes – a sector where this was already a top priority. In care home environments, where residents may be particularly vulnerable to infections, the use of products that can improve infection control on walls and high-touch surfaces can help mitigate the risk of disease transmission. Anti-viral paints, formulated with ingredients that inhibit the growth and spread of viruses and bacteria, offer an additional layer of defence against infection.
Bacteria are living organisms with
soft protective membranes which enable the living cores to thrive, multiply, and colonise on surfaces outside of a body. Once inside us, their membranes protect them from our antibodies long enough to cause infection. Although most viruses rely on a nucleus ‘host’ to reproduce and
Anti-viral paints offer an additional layer of defence against infection
survive, coronaviruses, influenza and other ‘envelope’ viruses have a shell that protects their living cores enough to both survive outside of a body and shield them from our antibodies once inside us. Unless damaged, their spikes can penetrate lungs’ air sacs for nucleus DNA to infect us.
Bacteria and shell viruses can lurk on surfaces waiting to be picked up by hand contact and breathed in when we bring our hands near our faces. Fortunately, their membranes, spikes, and shells are vulnerable to direct contact from surfaces of walls they contaminate if a wall has light reflective micro particle silver with naturally charged silver ions to burst virus shells and damage the nucleus DNA. Silver has long been recognised for its antimicrobial properties and is incorporated into paint formulations in the form of nanoparticles. Anti-viral paints also make use of
polyurethane hardened acrylic ‘cross- links’ during the drying process to form a smoother, harder, more cleanable surface than typical wall paints. This helps eliminate the microscopic pockets that host bacteria and can prevent effective cleaning of a surface. Anti-viral paints can also use photocatalytic technology, which activates in the presence of light to break down organic compounds, including viruses and bacteria. Titanium dioxide (TiO2
) is
a common photocatalyst used in these paints. When exposed to light, TiO2
produces
reactive oxygen species that can destroy the lipid membranes of viruses and disrupt their structure.
Hydrophobic coatings used in these paints also repel water and other liquids, making it more difficult for viruses and bacteria to adhere to the painted surfaces. These coatings create a barrier that reduces the ability of pathogens to survive and spread.
Some anti-viral paints also employ microencapsulation technology, where active antimicrobial agents are encapsulated within microscopic particles. When the painted surface is touched or disturbed, these particles are released, providing continuous protection against viruses and other microorganisms. Of course, it is important to note that with all anti-viral paints that can kill viruses and bacteria – they do not reduce the need for good hygiene practices.
Highly durable technology Care homes experience high levels of foot traffic, frequent cleaning, and general wear and tear, which can take a toll on painted surfaces over time. Durable paints, engineered to withstand these challenges, offer long-lasting protection and can help to maintain the aesthetic appeal of care home interiors.
More durable paints are often described
as washable, wipeable, or even scrubbable or ‘scrub-rated’. These scrub-rated paints are often the toughest available and can stand up to the highest level of abrasion – but what is a scrub rating? Scrub rating is tested under the Class 1 ISO 11998 Test which evaluates the resistance of the paint to repeated cleaning and is measured by the amount of paint that has been lost from the surface. Going further than this rating, some Class 1 paints are also tested to withstand 10,000 scrubs in high traffic areas. A Class 1 scrub rated paint tested to 10,000 scrubs could be up to 500 per cent stronger than a standard vinyl matt paint when applied to the same substrate. There are several different technologies
employed by highly durable and scuff- resistant paints.
Advanced resins – scrubbable paint typically utilizes advanced resin systems that provide superior adhesion and durability. These resins form a tough and flexible film when the paint dries, ensuring excellent resistance to cracking, peeling, and chipping. It is often acrylic, epoxy, and urethane resins that are employed in scrubbable paint formulations for their exceptional durability and performance.
March 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 33
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